My disappearing trick!

Catching up! 

My apologies for being MIA for such a long time! 

I have been busy! 

Nothing food or health related though, hence no posts about food or health.

I have however been writing a book with 4 co-authors and it is now officially published as of April1, 2016

The idea for the book started WAY BACK in 2012 and it is finally here now!

If you are a writer or speaker, you can check it out.

Judson Press
Amazon.ca
Amazon.com
Branes & Noble

I have also moved most of my blogs over to my website:

www.melonyteague.com

Instead of talking food and fitness, I talk fiction!~


I hope if that interests you, you will visit me there.

You never know, you MAY just get another food blog soon!

I wish you all the best and thanks for all the support over the years!

It has been a while

Here we are in May and it has been a while since I posted. The reason for this is that I have been on "The Plan" off and on for the last few months and have lost 8 to 10 pounds. Since none of the recipes are my own to share, I have not had much fodder for blogs! The Plan is a program by Lyn-Genet Recitas. You can check it for yourself and see if it works for you.

Since I last posted I have learned to make Maki Sushi at home and I have been experimenting with different kinds of rolls. I do not eat the raw fish kind. It just does not appeal to me.

Here are some photos of my attempts:

and then I keep forgetting to flip the rolls over and they turn out like this:

Here are some tips when making Maki Sushi Rolls:

• Make the rice in a rice cooker and use short grain rice, either brown or white
• Use the back of a spoon dipped in hot water to spread the rice on the Nori seaweed paper
• cover the sushi mat in clingwrap to keep it clean, remove clingwrap after each use.
• If you don't have cucumber, use zucchini.
• when cutting the rolls, dip knife in hot water.
• Use Tamari instead of Soy sauce, I was told it is gluten free, but check the label!

Go wild and experiment with flavours! Use what you have! 

I only use the faux crab sticks in my rolls, but if you choose to use fish, make sure it is good quality, sushi grade fish.

The last batch I made were filled with avocado, mango and zucchini with fresh basil leaves. They were De- Li-Cious!

www.melonyteague.com   

To subscribe to my consolidated newsletter, Click here  Melony Teague a freelance writer , ghost writer, columnist and motivator who lives in Canada with her husband and two young children. Founder of "Secrets of Body Transformation from the Inside Out"   

Join me on facebook. 

Reviewing 2013 on the first day of 2014

Happy New Year to all of you! 

Today is the first day of a brand new year. In order to make the most of the year ahead, I would like to review 2013 so that you and I can both see where we have been and where we are going in 2014!

 

Life is an adventure and to make the most of it, fitness and health is important.

Last year we started off with a 30 Day Challenge where participants from all over the globe joined together to encourage one another and take 30 days to replace one thing in their diet with a healthier alternative. I was blown away by the enthusiasm and results generated by the challenge. As a result we took the challenges all the way to July, thirty days at a time.

First recipe of the year was the Quinoa and Vegetable Soup. 
Quinoa Blueberry Nut Breakfast was a hit for those frosty winter mornings.  For all those turkey leftovers I posted a Vegetable Turkey Coconut Curry recipe

Coconut Curry Turkey Soup was a hit too. For those who needed a sweet fix without a sugar overload I developed a Sugar Free Apple Crisp.

We talked about Memory Cravings and discussed what it means to cultivate compassion. We enjoyed Coconut Black Bean Brownies, We looked at ways to eat well on a budget and exposed 5 food myths.

 

We experimented with adding sweetness to dishes by adding pear in the Tamari Beef Stir Fry.

2013 brought us some wonderful Guest Bloggers such as Dr. Yasmin Kelton, Allison Jorgens and  we were inspired by the 3 Piece Snack inserts. 

We did not leave out the kids, there was a kid approved pound cake recipe posted. Don't tell the kids it was sugar free!

For those who like a little zing and spice, I posted the Spicy Quinoa with Curried Mango and Cabbage recipe.

 I admit it, I went through a little bit of a pumpkin phase, with smoothies, hummus and breakfast recipes posted. 

I discovered the wonderful novel Invisible by Ginny L. Ytrrup and shared it all with you! I hope that you got to read it.

One discovery was a decadent recipe with a secret ingredient which was healthy and delicious! Don't tell your family what the secret ingredient is, they will never know! 

We concluded the year's 30 Day Challenges in July and took the rest of the summer off, life got busy and before you knew it, it was Christmas! Where did the months go?

As it got colder I developed a vegan Potato and Leek Recipe which was filling and easy to make. 

There were many more recipes posted for your enjoyment! Toronto weathered an ice storm and we all come through it. I am so grateful for a wonderful year and for each of you! You have enriched my life!

Thank you to all of you for a wonderful year and I look forward to what 2014 will bring! 

Here's to healthy choices and lifestyles! 

I wish you all the best for 2014~!

Stay Healthy 

Stay Happy

From Melony Teague 

and 

Fitness Training For Life and Adventures!

Easy and filling Leek and Potato Soup

Leek and Potato Soup 

This is my own recipe

VEGAN

This soup is both hearty and delicious.

Ingredients:
1 tbsp
coconut oil
4 Leeks, sliced
6 - 8 potatoes, (peeled)
parsley,
Black pepper
Vegetable broth (1 Litre)
Coconut milk (also about 1 litre)
Coarse salt to taste
Onion powder
2 cups of water or more if you like it thinner

It's easy to make, just cook leeks in coconut oil till soft, add the rest of the ingredients and cook till soft, then puree and season to taste. I added the coconut milk at the end.

www.melonyteague.com   

To subscribe to my consolidated newsletter, Click here  Melony Teague a freelance writer , ghost writer, columnist and motivator who lives in Canada with her husband and two young children. Founder of "Secrets of Body Transformation from the Inside Out"   

Join me on facebook. 

Pumpkin Time Again

October is here and since the leaves are starting to turn their autumn shades and fall gracefully to the ground, that's when I start looking forward to all things PUMPKIN!

There are a few things you may not think to pair up with Pumpkin. Like Cheese for example.
Another way to enhance the flavour is to add sea salt, pepper and butter. Delicious, it is a saltier take on the sweet version. Don't overdo the salt though or the butter.

This morning I had this recipe land in my INBOX :
Soft Pumpkin Cookies.  Give them a try.

Below is the Pumpkin cheese bread I came up with. ENJOY! It is melt in your mouth good!

 

PUMPKIN CHEESE BREAD RECIPE  - CLICK HERE!

Pumpkin is high in fiber and vitamin A! Based on a 2,000 calorie diet, a cup of Pumpkin yields 245% Vitamin A, so don't overdo it if you are pregnant. A cup of pumpkin also yields 19% Vitamin C, 4% Calcium and 8% Iron based on the same diet.

The Pumpkin bread recipe above has NO SUGAR added to it! But believe me, it's delicious!

 www.melonyteague.com 

To subscribe to my consolidated newsletter, Click here 
Melony Teague a freelance writer and columnist who lives in Canada with her husband and two young children.
Founder of "Secrets of Body Transformation from the Inside Out" 
Join me on facebook. 

Coconut Milk Rice Pudding or Breakfast

Comforting and fragrant....

This Brown Bismati rice pudding is a winner. It is gluten free and the raisins add iron to the meal. I make mine dairy free by adding a can of coconut milk. Be sure to look at the ingredients on the label, don't buy the cans with additives and gum in them.

RECIPE

 

Brown Bismati Coconut Rice Pudding 

(Rice Cooker method)

Ingredients:

1 can Coconut milk (NOT LOW FAT)

1/4 cup sultana raisins

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 - 3 tablespoons maple syrup

1/2 cup white Bismati rice

1/2 cup brown Bismati rice (* if you have allergies make sure it is gluten free and that there is no cross contamination)

1/2 cup water

lemon zest

Method:

1. Rinse the rice very well, at least 4 times in cold water and place in rice cooker
2. add spices
3. Open can of coconut milk and scoop off 1/3 cup of the "cream" and set aside. Pour the rest of the cream and coconut milk into the rice cooker and stir to combine with rice.
4. Add lemon zest, maple syrup and raisins, stir to combine.
5. Turn on your rice cooker and let it cook.
6. Once it is done add in the coconut cream that you set aside to make the rice pudding nice and creamy.
7. Serve warm with heated rice milk and whole raw almonds for breakfast or chill to serve as pudding. (1 cup per portion for breakfast.) 

ENJOY!

By Melony Teague

Subscribe to Fitness Training for Life and Adventures

  

www.melonyteague.com  To subscribe to my consolidated newsletter, Click here  Melony Teague a freelance writer and columnist and motivator who lives in Canada with her husband and two young children. Founder of "Secrets of Body Transformation from the Inside Out"  Join me on facebook. 

One week of the challenge already past

Today is the 8th Day of the Summer 30 Day Challenge and so far so good. Some have already used up their "get out of jail" cards, but for the most part participants are on track. The first week is always the hardest because you have to learn to think differently. It is easy to "let slip" and  realize after you have taken a bite of whatever it is that you have chosen to replace just because you are in still in the "old habit" mode. It happens and you can't beat yourself up about it, at least you realized and didn't just go ahead and eat the forbidden thing intentionally! Remember, it is about progress not perfection.

Participants have been reporting their daily activity to me and are doing well. Most are going way over their minimum 15 minutes a day (for 5 days in a week) requirement.


Here is Elizabeth's Landmark photo as well as one from Debra. Kristin from Michigan has been doing gardening and sent along a photo for us! Also, photos of the "Girl's Night Out" pics are coming in too! Thank you ladies.

Tea and Vietnamese food in Portland Oregon with 2 of my favorite 
girls!

HERE ARE SOME LINKS THAT YOU MAY FIND USEFUL:

• Is Coffee Right for you?
• Quinoa and Vegetable Soup Recipe
•  Breakfast Pumpkin smoothie
• 10 Tips from Igor

Subscribe to Fitness Training for Life and Adventures

  

www.melonyteague.com  To subscribe to my consolidated newsletter, Click here  Melony Teague a freelance writer and columnist and motivator who lives in Canada with her husband and two young children. Founder of "Secrets of Body Transformation from the Inside Out"  Join me on facebook.